New method found to watch YouTube on Nintendo Switch 2, but with caveats

We’re now just one month away from celebrating the first anniversary of the Nintendo Switch 2, and while the system has seen plenty of major releases worth celebrating, one notable app is still missing from the platform. That absence has raised some questions: notably, why isn’t YouTube available on the new hardware yet? For now, though, it seems a workaround has been discovered.

As first reported by Polygon, a method to access YouTube on  Nintendo Switch 2 has surfaced and it’s completely free. Reddit user JampyL found that the indie multiplayer title Super Animal Royale includes a secondary news and media feed within its main menu. By selecting one of the videos and choosing the “watch on YouTube” option, users are redirected to an external browser. From there, it’s possible to search for content and watch YouTube videos directly on the Nintendo Switch 2.

However, since this isn’t an official solution, there are some limitations. For starters, videos must be viewed in full screen, meaning you can’t browse comments while watching. Resolution is also capped at 360p, which is acceptable in handheld mode but noticeably worse when docked.

Additionally, the YouTube page itself may not load properly thumbnails might be missing, and channel banners or logos may not appear. Still, as long as you select specific videos, playback works without major issues.

An official YouTube app for Nintendo Switch 2 is likely still on the way. The platform previously stated that it was working on bringing the app to the system, although that update came nearly a year ago. For now, we’ll have to wait for further news.

Check out more news about the Nintendo Switch 2 here.